Courtenay & Dominic

Dom took Court ice skating for their first date at Dubai mall! Assuming because she's Canadian, she would probably be a natural hockey player and all star skater, this would be a winning idea. Except, she was absolutely terrible, hadn't skated in about 15 years and could barely hold herself up - Dom was skating circles around her! Forever laughing at herself, she at the very least could send videos of Dom to her dad (the ultimate hockey nut) and show off that she'd picked a good egg!

For their first Valentine's Day together, Dom decided to surprise Court with something very special she would always remember. Court favourite's movie of all time is Titanic and everyone knows that she is a die-hard fan of the British royal family). So Dom told Court to "pick up something fancy" and took her to a one-off Valentine's Day opera night as part of the opening of the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) cruise liner, which had recently been brought to Dubai and converted into a hotel. Half way through the evening (when Dom and Court were starting to get a little drunk of course), UK Channel 5 approached them about doing an interview about the QE2 Valentine's evening (they said they asked because Court's ball gown was so beautiful, obviously Dom claimed it was "all him" of course) - and so Dom and Court made their UK TV debut, even if they were a little tipsy on national television. The link to the Channel 5 clip is attached for you to watch - you'll see in the interview that Court says she loved the night as she's "obsessed with tea and crumpets, the Queen and Titanic." I guess Dom knew her well, even that early on! ;)

A few years ago, on their first trip together, Dom and Court went to Bali to visit Court's sister & family. Dom took Court to Ubud - a magical town in Bali surrounded by rice paddies, temples and shrines, green hillsides and famous landscapes. He took them to the Four Seasons Resort Bali At Sayan, probably the nicest place Court has or will ever stay in her life (it was voted the best hotel in the world at the time). It was there, in the middle of the colorful rainforest, with the sound of wildlife and rain falling around them, that Dom said I love you to Court. It was obviously reciprocated, and totally blissful - until the charcoal pills Court had been taking for the infamous "Bali Belly" had kicked in, and she was violently sick for the rest of the trip. She would ultimately spend the remainder of her 5 star experience in the toilet, needless to say they can probably never go back there.. but the memories, oh the memories, will last forever!! ;) :D

Before heading over to Canada, Dom had planned a surprise proposal in the beautiful mountains of Whistler, British Columbia. He had also hired a photographer to secretly capture the moment! As luck would have it though, a heavy snowstorm the night before threw a wrench into Dom's plans, resulting in his pre-booked Uber cancelling in the morning and him being unable to get another car. Dom asked Court to get some coffees while he went to reception and asked - or more like begged ;) - the hotel to use their 4x4. Thankfully they understood Dom's pain and helped!

So Dom and Court took the 4x4 down to his pre-planned location called the 'Stone Circle', a beautiful setting right on the edge of the frozen Alta Lake, in the middle of a snowy forest. In typical Court fashion, Dom of course had to tell her to ditch her coffee cup and oversized water bottle before they went down the path to the location ;) As the snow was now really heavy and deep, Court was nervous that Dom was taking her off the main trail (I think the word "avalanche" was even used) but Court soon felt more confident once she saw two other people having fun and taking photos in the snow (little did Court know they were Dom's photographers). Dom then helped Court up into the Stone Circle and said that while their Canada trip was so amazing and memorable, there was still one thing missing. He went down on one knee and proposed - Court said "FUCK yes!" - the reaction Dom was definitely hoping for ;) The photographers revealed themselves and Dom and Court then had a beautiful post-proposal photoshoot together in the snow.

Yes, this is Dom in a unicorn onesie - way before they were a couple! Dom and Court actually started out as housemates living in a shared Jumeirah Beach apartment with friends in Dubai back in 2018/2019. Court was going through a rough time when she noticed Dom passing through the house going to the gym everyday and eating a healthy meal plan. So she asked him about it and he offered to help her get started on his same food plan and train her/take her kickboxing at their nearby gym. They joke that they should send a wedding invite to the meal plan service "Pura" for being their matchmaker, but really it was when Court first saw Dom in his gym kit, fiercely punching a bag that she knew it was game over ;) Their training sessions, shared love for creativity and cheeky friendly banter quickly evolved into much more, and the rest is history...

On an epic Christmas trip to Canada after nearly 3 years of Court being away from home (thanks, Covid!) Dom finally met Court's parents in the flesh (vs Skype)! On Christmas day, while Court was in the shower, Dom asked Court's parents for their blessing to propose to her :) It was well received of course, and that same day Court's dad gave Dom a custom Kelowna Rockets hockey jersey in true "welcome to the Canadian family" fashion, followed by a hike in several feet of snow in minus 26 degrees! He's basically a true maple-syrup lovin', Tim Horton's eatin' hoser already, eh.